First Experience of Maglev

MAGLEV, or magnetic levitation, is a system of transportation that suspends, guides and propels vehicles, predominantly trains, using levitation from a very large number of magnets for lift and propulsion. Shanghai Maglev train is the first commercial high speed maglev line in the world. I've been traveled back for two times but still didn't get to try on it. It is because maglev passengers are more suitable for those who travel light and alone due to the inconvenient location and price. As the train will stop at the Longyang terminus, at Pudong then from there you will either transfer to use subway or take cab to your destination, vice versa and it's still quite a distance from the city centre. One way pricing of Maglev is RMB50. The advantage of the maglev is it only take approximately 8 minutes to reach airport from Longyang terminus (by road is around 45 minutes, i guess) and the maximum speed reaches 431 km/h.

A "sua gu" like me when I kept taking the speed photos, there were a few starring eyes. Really sumimaseh.....

天鹅湖

在今年年初，因大少爷的友人到访，因刚好有俄罗斯国立芭蕾歌剧院芭蕾舞团在上海大剧院演出天鹅湖，就约了一起去看。本来预算门票最贵只买到RMB380，怎知好位子，便宜的都卖完了，友人也就帮我们买了两张RMB680的门票，哇塞，真的好贵!

说真的，看完以后，有点大失所望，好像被欺骗的感觉。以为会有交响乐团在旁，可是音乐是播放的； 虽然芭蕾舞团跳得很好，但故事情节有点乏闷，间中大少爷和友人差点要被周爷爷叫去下棋了。在观赏中，是不可以拍照的，在黑暗中拿起手机或camera可以被发觉到的，工作人员要不停的将 laser light 照着那些人，叫他们停止，可是有些人就是没教养，有些还要重复两三次，真的 @#*&￥· !!

不过，我想我应该不会再看芭蕾舞了，还是比较喜欢 musical type， 有跳舞，有唱歌那些。

泰康路的田子坊

If you want to have a peaceful and not so Chinese day in Shanghai, perhaps you may go to this place called 田子坊 (Tian Zi Fang). It is originated as a workplace for China artists and the display of their paintings. Eventually, the neighborhood also converted to commercial shops. You walk around the neighborhood like treasure hunt, those shops may hide at the end of the lane or just a small staircase for you to go up second floor. A lot of unique shops sells things from all over the world and a lot of western restaurants where you can stop by to have a sip of coffee or tea. The paintings here at least are more humane, at least I can understand compared to what I saw in 莫干山路 - Moganshan Road which I wrote in previous blog. This place is full of artistic and characters. It's a decent place for photography too. I like it very much. If you have half day to spare in Shanghai, this place is highly recommended.

富丽堂皇的钱柜

昨天，一个在上海呆了五年的朋友带我去见识见识。这富丽堂皇的 lobby 就是上海的钱柜 - Karaokae。Reception 似 hotel lobby。装修惊人，有三层楼，好歹也有百间厢房。朋友说如果有一天它日回乡了，她会想念的上海其中一样，就是这个。这里的麦克风和音响都很好，不管你的声音多烂，也能唱出动听的歌。不过，五音不全的我，还是发挥不到，实在是太烂 ！！一惯的我，只有听歌，不过也及 enjoy。

钱柜消费不便宜，，厢房和饮料另计，都要 RMB100 以上。听说其他的 Karaokae 会便宜些。热爱 Karaokae 的朋友，来到上海不妨试一试。